Rough Collie

The Rough Collie (also known as the
Long-Haired Collie) is a long-coated breed of medium to large size dog that in
its original form was a type of collie used and bred for herding in Scotland.
Originating in the 1800s, it is now well known through the works of author
Albert Payson Terhune, and through the Lassie novel, movies, and television
shows. There is also a smooth-coated variety; some breed organisations,
including both the American and the Canadian Kennel Clubs, consider the
smooth-coat and rough-coat dogs to be variations of the same breed. Rough
Collies generally come in shades of sable, merles, and tri-coloured. This breed
resembles a bigger version of the Shetland Sheepdog though the two breeds are
not related in any way.

Description

Appearance

Four
coat colours are recognized for Rough Collies: sable and white, where the
"sable" ranges from pale tan to a mahogany; tricolour, which is
primarily black edged in tan; blue merle, which is mottled gray, White, which
is a mainly all-white coat, except for the head, which could be tri, sable or
blue. All have white coat areas, in the collar, parts of the leg, and usually
the tail tip. Some may have white blazes on their faces. In addition, the
American Kennel Club accepts white, where the dog is predominantly white with
coloured markings of sable, tricolor, or blue merle on the head and sometimes
body patches.

Rough
Collies have a blunter face than the smaller, but otherwise very similar
Shetland Sheepdog, which is partly descended from the Rough Collie. The planes
of the muzzle and the top of the skull should be parallel in collies, with a
slight but distinct stop. (In shelties, the planes are not parallel.) The downy
undercoat is covered by a long, dense, coarse outer coat with a notable ruff
around the neck, feathers about the legs, a petticoat on the abdomen, and a frill
on the hindquarters.

The
size and weight varies among breed standards; male collies can stand 55.8 to 66
cm (22 to 26 in) at the shoulder; the female averages 5 cm (2 in) shorter. The
males are usually in the weight range (50–70 lbs), and the females are usually
5 to 10 lbs less. Collies in the US are sometimes reported to be over a hundred
pounds – a large collie typically weighs no more than 70 pounds. US and UK
standards may differ. The UK standard calls for dogs to be significantly
smaller than those under the American Kennel Club.

One
of the characteristic features of the Rough Collie is its head. This is light
in relation to the rest of the body, and resembles a blunted wedge tapering
smoothly from ears to black nose, with a distinct stop and parallel head
planes. The muzzle is well rounded, and never square. There is considerable
variation in the colour of the head, however. The eyes are medium-sized and
almond shaped. The ears are supposed to be semi-prick, with the upper third
folded over. Ears which do not 'tip' properly are fairly common, and many
collies have their ears taped as puppies (using medical adhesive or paper tape)
to encourage them to lay properly – no cutting or surgery is involved. They are
similar to a Shetland Sheepdog's, but larger.

Once
seen, the contrast between the Rough Collie head and that of a Border Collie is
immediately apparent, the latter having a considerably shorter muzzle and a
more distinct stop between muzzle and forehead. The ruff is also distinctive in
distinguishing the two breeds.

Temperament

Rough
collies should show no nervousness or aggression, and are generally great with
children and other animals. However, they must be well socialised to prevent
shyness. They are medium to large sized dogs, and they generally need a home
instead of being in a small apartment. Like many herding dogs, collies can be
fairly vocal, and some are easily trained not to bark. The amount of herding
instinct varies, with some dogs being quite drivey and others calmer.

Rough
Collies are very loyal and may be one-family dogs (although most make
exceptions for children), but are very rarely aggressive or protective beyond
barking and providing a visual deterrent. They are typically excellent with
kids. They are eager to learn and respond best to a gentle hand.

The
rough collie's long coat has made the breed successful on northern Midwest
farms as an able herder and guardian of the farm during the winter. The dog
needs to be gradually acclimated to the cold and a suitable insulated outdoor
shelter must be provided for the dog along with ample quality food and a source
of unfrozen water. The rough collie also relishes playing in the snow with
children during the winter months. They guard the farm while the owner is away
and are naturally protective of small children.

Health

While
Rough Collies are generally resilient and healthy, there are some health
problems that can affect the breed.

Collie
eye anomaly (CEA), a genetic disease which causes improper development of the
eye and possible blindness, is a common ailment in the breed. More rarely,
Rough Collies can be affected by progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), another
genetic disease in which bilateral degeneration of the retina results in
progressive vision loss culminating in blindness. Through genetic testing and
careful screening program it would be theoretically possible to eradicate both
of these problems in purebred lines, however, certainly in the UK, the Kennel
Club does not require these tests to be done either for registration or
showing. CEA is so prevalent that elimination of affected dogs except through
very slow and careful breeding decisions to avoid shrinking the gene pool more
than absolutely necessary. Rough Collie puppies should be screened at an early
age (6–8 weeks) by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist to check for CEA. PRA
has a later onset and can be detected by DNA test, but is much less widespread
(in the US) than CEA. (In the UK, PRA is more common.) Note, the UK Kennel Club "Accredited
Breeder Scheme" requires eye tests and recommends the genetic test for
this class of members, .

Canine
cyclic neutropenia is a cyclic blood disorder that is usually fatal to affected
puppies. The disease is also referred to as "gray collie syndrome",
due to affected puppies having a pale gray, pinkish/gray or beige colouring,
none of which are normal Rough Collie colours. Puppies that survive through adulthood
are plagued with immune disorders throughout their lives and rarely live more
than three years. DNA testing can help detect carriers of the recessive gene
that causes the disease.

Hip
dysplasia: As with most of the larger breeds, hip dysplasia is a potential
concern for Rough Collies. Although this disease appears to be
"multigene", careful selection by many breeders is reducing this
problem. The UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires
hip-scores this class of members, however, a very small proportion of UK
registered puppies are bred under this scheme. Hip dysplasia is rare in collies
compared to their closest relatives and other breeds of the same size.

Rough
Collies may carry a mutant Mdr1 gene that results in a sensitivity to Ivermectin
and related drugs. A screening test is used to determine if alternative
medications are required. Overdoses from the proscribed medications can result
in neurological impairment or even death. This faulty gene is present in
several breeds, but is well known among collies.

In
addition to these problems, all of which can be tested for, there are a number
of problems which are thought to be genetic but for which no screening test
exists. These include epilepsy, bloat, a tendency towards allergies, and thyroid
disorders (primarily hypothyroidism.). Because no DNA tests exist for these
disorders (and all can have causes other than genetic origins), breeders can
only do their best to avoid producing them by removing affected dogs from the
gene pool.

Grooming

The
double-layered coat needs to be brushed frequently and thoroughly to keep it in
a show condition. Pet dogs need less maintenance but still a significant amount
to keep the dog healthy. The profuse coat picks up grass seeds and burrs, and
many dogs tend to mat to some degree, particularly behind the ears, around the
collar (if a collar is left on the dog), and in the pants. Shaving a collie may
stop it from growing hair in the shaved areas. Spaying and neutering can alter coat
texture, making it softer and more prone to matting.

Working life

Herding

In
the 18th century, the Collie's natural home was in the highlands of Scotland,
where it had been used for centuries as a sheepdog. The dogs were bred with
great care in order to assist their masters in the herding and guarding of
their flock.

Collies
are capable of being keen herders while remaining sensible, flexible family
companions, whether as working dogs on a ranch or farm or helping out a
suburban owner who keeps a few sheep, goats, or ducks as a hobby. Participation
in herding helps preserve the special heritage of the Collie and opens up new
opportunities for owner and dog. The qualities that make a good herding dog –
trainability, adaptability, loyalty, soundness of body and character, agility,
grace – are important in many areas, and contribute so much toward making the
dog an outstanding companion as well.

Throughout
the country there are local herding clubs that provide clinics, work days,
trials and tests. Several organizations provide herding title programs in which
Collies regularly participate. A Herding Instinct Test introduces Collies and
their handlers to herding at the basic level. It is designed to show whether or
not a Collie, who may have never had any exposure to livestock, still has the
natural instinct to perform the function for which the breed was initially
created. It is a non-competitive introduction to carefully selected and easily
handled livestock under favorably controlled conditions.

Activities

Rough
Collies can compete in dog agility trials, obedience, conformation, flyball,
tracking, and herding events. Herding instincts and trainability can be
measured at noncompetitive herding tests. Rough Collies exhibiting basic
herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials. The breed has
also been known to work as search and rescue dogs, therapy dogs and guide dogs
for the blind.